Best Places to Snowshoe in Austria
Posted by Crescent Moon on Nov 19th 2022
As you might guess, there are a number of excellent snowshoeing trails in Austria, and they will vary in terms of their degree of difficulty, the length of the trail, and their location in the country. If you’re planning a visit to Austria and intend to do some snowshoeing, you can use the information below to guide you to a trail that might be suitable for you and your family, so you can get the most out of your experience there.
5 Best Places to Snowshoe in Austria
The trails we’ve chosen for our Top 5 include a diverse group of snowshoeing trails that are of different levels of difficulty and take in widely different scenes. Depending on your level of ability, you should be able to find something that really appeals to you, and which is appropriate for family members as well.
Grossglockner
This trail is situated in the Hohe Tauern National Park, and in total, it’s 11.1 miles long. That should take someone of average ability about 9 hours to complete. Grossglockner is the tallest peak in Austria, and the highest mountain in the Alps, east of the Brenner Pass. The trail is an out-and-back one that is considered by most to be a challenging route, but which includes some spectacular alpine scenery. While snowshoeing, you’re likely to encounter other visitors who are skiing, back-packing, or hiking, since it’s a very popular area for those activities.
Sonnwendstein
Located in Lower Austria, Sonnwendstein is rated as a moderately challenging course of approximately 9 miles, and it normally takes about five and a half hours to complete the trail. Since it’s part of the Zauberberg complex, there is also a great deal of skiing activity here, as well as sledding and snowboarding. That makes this an ideal place to take the family, because there’s fun here for everyone. From the Zauberberg, it will be possible to walk up to the famous Liechtenstein House, or to take a cable car up or down the valley to view some breathtaking scenery. Most tourists visit this area between June and September.
Hochwildam
This is one of Austria’s snowshoe trails that is considered easy, so if you have some novice snowshoers in your party, this might be a good one to start on. It is only about 4.5 miles in length, and takes less than 3 hours to complete, even for beginners. This trail starts at the Wildalmgraben car park and winds its way through the Kitzbühel Alps. It is located at Aurach bei Kitzbühel in the Tyrol region of Austria, and here you’ll also find a great many people enjoying a good hike. If you’re looking for solitude, there will also be times when you can enjoy some peaceful moments, taking in the splendor of the Kitzbühel Alps.
Kanisfluh
This is a beautiful hike you can take in the scenic Bregenzerwald Mountains, situated between Au and Mellau. It is considered a moderately challenging trail of 3.5 miles, and it usually takes about 2.5 to 3 hours for an average snowshoer to complete. Along the way, you’ll go through the Hehlesattel Pass to the Kanisfluh, which is the most well-known mountain in the Bregenz Forest of Vorarlberg. This is a popular hiking destination, so you’re likely to see some hikers while you’re on the trail.
Edelweisshütte
Considered a hard course to snowshoe, this trail is probably best suited for experienced snowshoers, and the 5.6-mile course will generally require about 5 hours to complete. This is one of the most beautiful mountain trails in the region, and it begins at a car park in Mariensaüle, then follows the Zipperlingsteig trail through a spectacular mountain forest. It is a very popular area for backpacking, hiking, and rock climbing, so there will be plenty of adventurers to be seen along the route. You’ll find this engaging trail at Neuberg an der Mürz, in the Styria region of Austria.
Best Snowshoes to Wear in Austria
To get the most out of your Austrian snowshoeing adventure, you should be prepared for a potentially strenuous excursion, which will sometimes take you uphill and require a fair degree of stamina. However, taking any one of the trails described above will guarantee that you see some of the most gorgeous scenery in Europe, and will put you in close touch with nature for a wonderful personal experience.